Is God Good?

In this post, I want to talk about how God answered one of my prayers, and used it for His glory.


Within the past few months, I have been praying about how I would share my testimony of faith with my grandparents.


I got a call on July 5 at 8am. It was my uncle, whom I did not talk to very much. He begged me to get my dad's number. He did not explain why, so I asked. All he said was.. your grandfather died in his sleep last night. As hard it is for me to write a blog about this, I must.. because even during the darkest of times, God has a plan.


I was very upset. I have not cried so hard in my life. I was wailing. My Grandpa "Poppy" Duffy passed at the age of 71. He was very young. Yes, he had complications and was overweight, but he was getting better. When I heard of his passing, I was very angry at God. I did not know why God let this happen, let alone let this happen now while I am away from my family. It all happened so fast.. I felt like it was my fault. I felt so guilty for not sharing my new views on life with him. I was planning on telling him about it in August.. but now it is too late.


Once I was at the funeral, I still did not understand why God let this happen. All of my family was deeply hurt. They did not understand, either. My grandma, who was married to my grandfather for over 50 years, and had been with him since she was 14, was in denial. We all were! And still am, unfortunately.


Now that it has been 3 weeks since his passing, I have started to see how God would use this for our own good. I understand that using my grandfather's death for our own good is ridiculous, but, God has shown me His plan. Do you want to know how God used this for His glory?


There are many things that God has done in order to heal the pain, but also bring Him glory. First off, God used me to encourage my family. I read the Bible to my family, and I basically shared my testimony of faith with my grandma. She was deeply moved by it, and even acknowledged that Christ died for her sins. My grandfather's death has also brought the family closer together. I talk and email my grandma many times a week, and my dad calls her everyday. In fact, the entire Duffy family is in contact with each other more frequently.


As awful as death is, God has a plan for all of us. So, the question is, is God good? Does He know what He is doing? Does He have a plan that is perfect? YES! Yes, He does! God has done good things through this.


I know I used this verse in my last blog, but, I want to post it again.
Jeremiah 29: 11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I Need A Sign

It was 2:00am. I was sitting outside waiting for a sign from God. I said out loud, "do you even hear me?" I found myself in a very lonely place, questioning God, saying that life is not fair.


I was reminded of Romans 1:19- 20a. "Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen..."


After complaining about how sad I was feeling at the time, God revealed Himself to me. All of a sudden, something formed into the sky. As I looked up, I saw five streams of clouds. The clouds formed some sort of funnel. There were five different funnel clouds, which eventually met at a point in the sky. The clouds met where the moon was. This looked like a large hand reaching out in the sky. Where the "fingers" met, the moon was the center. And as I looked at the moon, I saw something so clear to me that I fell to the ground and began to sob. It was The Cross.


When you think you are all alone, you are not. God, the Creator of the Universe, hears all things. He hears all our cries, all our suffering, all our pain. God knows us inside and out. He knows what we need, and knows what we want. He is our Father in heaven, always loving us and watching over us.


Jeremiah 29: 11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."